Method for programming operator system interface with a simulator

Abstract

A process that takes converted system software code as input to a program created with a commercial compiler to produce a simulated Operator System Interface. An Operator System Interface is produced using program data structures rather than extensive emulation or updating of program source code. These files can then be modified or updated and converted back to both drive the system software and the Software Specification. This eliminates extensive manpower intensive emulation, and significantly reduces update work on actual system source code.

1. A method for programming an operator system interface with a simulator, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing, as an input to a computing device other than a computing device providing said operator system interface, definitional tables for said operator system interface, wherein said tables define specific governing attributes of said operator system interface; 
 generating an operator system interface simulator program distinct from said operator system interface, wherein, when the simulator program is run on said computing device other than said computing device providing said operator system interface, said simulator program performs display of a representation of the operator system interface defined by the definitional tables input in the providing step and allows a user to select components of the operator system interface, using a pointing device, in order to view information about the selected component on a display device or to effect a change in keysets or menus, thereby modifying said representation of the operator system interface within said simulator program, and 
 modifying said definitional tables to correspond to said modifying of said representation to reprogram said operator system interface on said computing device providing said operator system interface. 
 
   
   
     2. A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating tables to be used in a software requirements specification. 
   
   
     3. A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating operational operator system interface definitional tables using the simulated operator system interface definitional tables; and 
 developing an operational operator system interface from the generated operational operator interface definitional tables. 
 
   
   
     4. A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the providing step further comprises the step of extracting the definitional tables from an existing operator system interface. 
   
   
     5. A method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 generating updated operational operator system interface definitional tables. 
 
   
   
     6. A method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 modifying the simulated operational operator system interface; and 
 generating updated operational operator system interface definitional tables. 
 
   
   
     7. A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the steps of generating a simulated operator system interface simulator program, modifying the simulated operator system interface program and generating updated operational operator system interface definitional tables are repeated a desired number of times. 
   
   
     8. A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of running the simulator program on a personal computer. 
   
   
     9. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the simulator program is used to train operators in a control and display system defined by the operator system interface. 
   
   
     10. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the simulator program is used to demonstrate functionality of a control and display system defined by the operator system interface.